In the Manpur block of Gaya district, Bihar, Shashi Kumar has turned an unconventional agricultural venture into a commercial success story. Coming from an agrarian household, he began his journey on a bicycle, spending nights under makeshift tents while managing beehives in open fields. Today, he ranks among the foremost beekeepers in Bihar, operating a thriving honey enterprise with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 10 crore, owning a spacious residence and three four-wheelers, while his children have secured good corporate and professional careers.
Early Background and the Turn Toward Agriculture
Originally from Virra village in the Jehanabad district, Shashi Kumar developed a natural affinity for farming early in his childhood, observing field practices closely. At the age of 15, he relocated to Gaya to pursue his formal education, eventually earning an undergraduate degree in chemistry. Despite holding a science qualification, he felt little inclination toward standard corporate employment. His priority was to launch an independent venture that required modest initial capital while offering strong profit margins, a quest that drew him directly toward commercial apiculture.
His first attempt at the business did not succeed. Undeterred by the early setback, he relaunched his beekeeping operations in 1996. Three decades ago, his initial investment was a modest sum of Rs 10,000, which went into procuring just 10 bee boxes. During those early days, managing the migratory colonies meant sleeping in canvas tents under the open sky and commuting entirely by bicycle to distribute and tend to the stock.
Farmer Training and Institutional Recognition
By 1998, Shashi Kumar partnered with the Khadi Board to conduct structured training programs for agricultural workers. He facilitated exposure visits and technical training for farmers across several Indian states, helping them adopt scientific apiculture methods. His contributions earned him the Progressive Bee Keepers Award from Dharwad University in 1998, followed by the Best Entrepreneur Award from Bank of Baroda in Gaya.
His progressive techniques brought continued academic and governmental accolades. Rajendra Agricultural University in Pusa honored him with the Progressive Farmer Award across multiple years: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2009. In 2004, he secured progressive farmer recognition from both APEDA and the National Bee Board in Delhi. Four years later, in 2008, he received the NG Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture. Further demonstrating his standing in the sector, he served on the governing board of Bihar Agricultural University in Sabour, Bhagalpur, between 2013 and 2015.
Commercial Expansion and Shiva Agro Processing
To scale up operations, Shashi Kumar secured a bank loan of Rs 1 lakh in 1997, directing the funds toward setting up an initial packaging unit. Building on that base, he formally incorporated Shiva Agro Natural Products Private Limited in 2004 with a project outlay of Rs 45 lakh.
This capital allowed him to erect a dedicated facility integrating honey processing, laboratory testing, and automated packaging, retailing the finished harvest under the brand name Shiva Agro. The venture has transformed regional livelihoods, with more than 200 beekeepers across Bihar currently working in collaboration with his setup. With an annual production volume reaching 35 metric tonnes of pure honey, the enterprise now reports a steady annual revenue benchmark of over Rs 10 crore.
